SERENDIPITY

~19~ The truth And Found Out ✔️

"Ah, Mariella Santiago," he uttered, his gaze shifting from the newspaper to me. In that instant, it felt as though the air had been sucked out of the car, making it arduous for me to catch my breath. Struggling to maintain composure, I squirmed in my seat, desperately attempting to appear unfazed.

"Raquel?" he called out.

"Hmm?" I responded, my voice slightly shaky.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah... uh," I stumbled, my words faltering. "I'm fine, really," I assured him, nodding vigorously and mustering a smile to validate my claim.

"Alright, if you say so. Could you provide me with your address?"

I provided him with my address and finally eased back into my seat. What's happening to me? As I gazed out of the car window, I suddenly noticed that we were merely two blocks away from the apartment complex.

"Is this the spot?" he queried, coming to a halt in front of the complex.

"Yeah, that's it. Thanks for the ride," I said, unfastening my seatbelt and stepping out.

"No problem. Hopefully, we'll cross paths again soon," he remarked.

"Sure," I muttered under my breath, taking a step back as the car accelerated away. Oh, dear. I hope this isn't the game he's playing.

—*—*—*—

"So?" Ethan inquired, breaking the silence that had enveloped us during our fifteen minutes at the coffee shop.

"Where should I begin?" I asked, lazily swirling my cappuccino in its mug.

"Start from where Mariella started," he replied.

"Alright," I sighed, taking a sip of my cappuccino. "Well, considering your party caters to the elite, I had a hunch that my father might make an appearance. I bear an uncanny resemblance to my mother in every way, and those who knew her are left astounded when they see me. I didn't want my father to recognize me, let alone discover my surname if he happened to be present. In order to seek justice for my mother's death, I needed to assume a different identity."

"What if your career blossoms, and the world perceives you as a completely transformed individual? Will you revert to being Raquel after avenging your mother's death, or will you continue as Mariella?" Ethan inquired.

"Mariella is simply a pseudonym, Ethan. If the people who hold significance in my life know my true identity, why should I concern myself with revealing it to those who are inconsequential?" I replied.

"But your fans deserve to know the truth," Ethan insisted.

"I can always return to my natural auburn hair and still retain the stage name," I mused, considering the possibilities.

"We shall soon find out. Now, divulge to me your connection with Adrian," Ethan pressed.

"Adrian could pose a real threat, Ethan. I sense that he suspects something. We have crossed paths twice before, and he possesses astute observation skills. It's baffling how I spent my entire upbringing around your parents, and they failed to recognize me. Yet, Adrian, whom I've only recently met, is already piecing things together," I explained.

"So, what's our plan?" Ethan asked, concern evident in his voice.

"I'm uncertain at this point," I admitted. "Perhaps we need to dig up a secret about Adrian, something we can use as leverage if he ever attempts to expose my true identity."

"You're starting to sound like a bad girl, you know," he remarked with a teasing smile.

"I'm left with no other option," I replied, my voice tinged with resignation.